Drive an ATV in Ontario

ATVs and other types of ORVs are popular year-round utility and recreational vehicles that can offer hours of enjoyment for outdoor enthusiasts, as long as you obey the law and follow safety precautions. This information will help you enjoy your ATV/ORV safely.

Beginning July 1, 2015, the province is implementing new changes to ORV and ATV. These changes include:

Allowing more types of off-road vehicles (ORVs) and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) – including two-up ATVs, side-by-side ORVs and utility terrain vehicles (UTVs) – on the shoulder of public roads, where permitted

Mandating that all riders – including drivers and passengers of all ages – wear an approved motorcycle helmet and use a seatbelt or foot rests, where applicable

Children under the age of eight will not be allowed as a passenger on any ATV/ORV operating on-road

Limiting the number of passengers to the number of available seating positions

Requiring compliance labels on all ATVs/ORVs

Clarifying access and exemptions for farmers and trappers and for Far Northern Ontario municipalities

Smart Ride Safe Ride ATV/ORV Handbook

The Smart Ride Safe Ride handbook outlines the rules and requirements for ATVs and ORVs. It will tell you:

where you can ride your ATV/ORV

who can drive an ATV/ORV in Ontario

the road rules you need to follow

how to be a safe and responsible ATV/ORV rider

On-road riding

ATV/ORV requirements

Some ATVs/ORVs can travel along certain provincial highways and on municipal roads, if the municipality has a bylaw permitting on-road ATV/ORV use.

For the purposes of on-road riding, a single-riderATV is a type of ORV that has:

four wheels that contact the ground

steering handlebars

a seat that is straddled by the driver

designed for a driver only and no passenger

Only an ATV/ORV that meets these standards can be used on the road. They must also meet other equipment-related requirements.

For more information about these requirements. click here

Where to ride

Permitted ATVs/ORVs can travel on:

Highways 500 to 899

many 7000-series highways

highways with low traffic volumes

ATVs/ORVs cannot travel on:

400-series highways

the Queen Elizabeth Way

sections of the Trans-Canada Highway

For a complete list of provincial highways where on-road ATV/ORV use is permitted, please refer to Ontario Regulation 316/03. Schedule B and for a list of provincial highways where on-road use is prohibited. Please refer to Ontario Regulation 316/03 ScheduleA.

For a list of highways in Ontario where ATVs are prohibited from crossing, please check Schedule 1 of Regulation 863 of the Off-Road Vehicles Act.

Who can ride

For on-road riding, an ATV/ORV driver must:

be at least 16 years old

hold at least a valid G2 or M2 licence

wear an approved motorcycle helmet, securely fastened under the chin with a chin strap

wear a seat belt, where provided

travel at speeds less than the posted speed limit, as outlined below

For on-road riding, a passenger on an ATV/ORV:

cannot be under the age of eight

must wear a seat belt or use foot rests, when applicable

must wear an approved motorcycle helmet, securely fastened under the chin with a chin strap

Rules of the road

ATVs/ORVs on the road must travel at speeds less than posted speed limit:

no more than 20 km/h on roads with a posted speed limit of 50 km/h or less

no more than 50 km/h on roads with a posted speed limit greater than 50 km/h

Municipalities may set lower speed limits or additional rules for ATVs/ORVs.

ATVs/ORVs travelling along a road must:

be driven in the same direction as traffic

travel on the shoulder – if the shoulder is unsafe or impassable or not wide enough, an ATV/ORV can be driven on the travelled portion of the road

have headlights and tail lights on

Off-road riding

Your vehicle

For off-road riding, your ATV must be registered and display a rear licence plate (except in exempt areas like far northern Ontario). It must be insured under a motor vehicle liability policy.

These requirements also apply to other types of (ORVs) including two-up ATVs side-by-side ORVs and utility terrain vehicles.

Who can drive

For off-road riding, an ATV/ORV driver must:

be at least 12 years old, unless directly supervised by an adult or while driving on land occupied by the owner of the ATV/ORV

carry the ATV/ORV’s registration permit or a true copy

Drivers and passengers must wear an approved motorcycle helmet, securely fastened under the chin with a chin strap.

Where to ride Crossing a Highway

The driver can directly cross a highway on an ATV/ORV where permitted only if:

it is registered and displays a rear licence plate

it is insured under a motor vehicle liability policy

the driver is at least 16 years old and has a valid driver’s licence of any class

the driver and passengers are wearing approved motorcycle helmets, securely fastened under the chin with a chin strap

For a list of highways in Ontario where AVTs/ORVs are prohibited from crossing, please check Off-Road Vehicles Act.

Exemptions

Exemptions can be found in the Ontario Regulation 316/03.

Beginning July 1, 2015, farmers and trappers and public work employees are exempt from ATV/ORV width and weight restrictions while performing commercial duties. Additionally, municipalities in Far Northern Ontario may prohibit the use of ATVs/ORVs on certain roads.

Be a safe and responsible rider

take an ATV/ORV safety course and learn to ride from an expert

know your ATV/ORV and read its operator’s manual before you ride

graduated licensing requirements apply to young and novice drivers when driving on-road

do a pre-ride inspection and check oil, gas and other fluid levels, lights, brakes and tire pressure